Medan, 18 August 2022 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Islamic University of North Sumatra (UISU) signed a Cooperation Agreement to explore partnerships in mutual interests. 

Both IOM and UISU discussed several potential joint activities such as awareness-raising sessions by Faculty of Law to educate refugees on Indonesian law and regulations, a joint event for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and farming activities for refugees by Faculty of Agriculture. Moreover, the university also proposed IOM to participate in their welcome orientation and deliver a session for the new intake students.  

At the signing ceremony, Dr. H. Yanhar Jamaluddin, the chancellor of UISU, underlined the important potential of collaboration that the Cooperation Agreement can bring about for his campus and IOM. He added, “I think this is a good opportunity for our faculties to be involved. The faculty of teacher training and education can guide for refugees to be able to speak Indonesian. Likewise, the faculty of agriculture can teach farming, while the faculty of medicine can assist IOM in providing health services and many more.” 

Yanhar also added that his party had identified at least 16 points of accommodation or refugee activity centers that could be locations for UISU’s community service programs. 

Likewise, Sahra Farah Ahmed, Head of IOM Sub-Office in Medan, expressed her positive note on the collaborative potential. She hoped that through the partnership, both IOM and the university can gain experience in international cooperation, develop capacity and deliver high-quality innovation in the field of migration. She added, “We hope this MoU can provide opportunities for refugees to participate in and to experience learning in higher education.” 

IOM is an international organization committed to the principle that humane and orderly migrants benefit migrants and society, acts to assist in tackle the operational challenges of migration, advances understanding of migration issues, promotes social and economic development through migration, and effective respect for human rights and welfare of migrants. 

Over the years, IOM has been in partnership with several universities in the field and the government, especially the health department, to provide free vaccines and other forms of health services. For example, in Makassar, IOM collaborated with Bosowa University to provide opportunities for migrants to attend lectures.  

As such, it is hoped that in the future the MoU agreement between UISU and IOM can be immediately implemented in the form of programs that can provide benefits for both institutions. 

For media queries, please contact Ariani Hasanah Soejoeti, IOM's National Media and Communications Officer in Indonesia at asoejoeti@iom.int/08122726308.